Following closely after his milestone 8,000th winning drive and his February private purchase of pacer Waterside Champ bringing him a pair of wins in his first three starts, Hall Of Fame driver Wally Hennessey has done it again
with a private acquisition of pacing mare Eyewitness Account at Pompano Park.
In the first start in the care of trainer Dan Hennessey, the five-year-old Camluck-Unchained Speed mare was sent straight to the front in a $4,000 conditioned test by her new owner and driver through fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:24.4. Wally Hennessey had his new charge, previously owned by Shelley Henry of Arthur, ON through her February 13 start, unurged through the stretch to stop the clock in 1:54.2.
Eyewitness Account, now a career winner of $52,317, was bred by Millar Farms of Newmarket, ON and her earlier trainers were Michel Ouellet and Eric Adams before racing in recent years at Pompano and in Ontario from the care of Wayne Henry. Eyewitness Account also had a 2011 stint at Batavia Downs from the barn of David McNeight III.
The Monday evening feature was the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace. After Special Sweetheart driven by Joe Pavia, Jr. rocketed to the front in :26.1, Best Around in rein to George Napolitano, Jr. looped around to the top in the second quarter and stepped home the rest of the way in :54.4, 1:22.3 and 1:51.1. Special Sweetheart and Bryans Ideal, partnered by Dan Clements, followed next best under the wire.
It was the 22nd career win for Best Around, a six-year-old Cambest-Rondeau Hanover mare trained by Paul Holzman for Joel Benson Stables of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She earned her speed badge of 1:50.3 at Pompano last month and the career earnings for the former claimer now stand at $109,928.
(Pompano Park)